Electric water heater



R. M. STEPHENS.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER. APPLICATIONJILED JUNE 23, 1920.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD H. STEPHENS, OF IRVING, TEXAS, ASSIGN'OR OF ONE-TWELFTH TO CHARLES E. MANLEY AND ONE-TWELFTH TO ELHEB L. LIPI, BOTH 01 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRIC WATER HEATER.

Specification'of Letters Patent,

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

Application tiled June 23, 1920. Serial No. 391,060.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LRIoHAnn M. STEPHENS, of Irving, Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Water Heaters, whereof the following is a specificat1on.

This invention relates to electric water heaters, adapted for heating small bodies of water, and of the class in which the water itself constitutes the final closing of the circuit. 1

The invention comprises a heating unit com osed of two hollow carbon cylinders, or shel s, one within the other, both cylinders boin open at their ends, and separated by insul ators at the bottom, and by insulating and packinomaterial, at the top. The walls of the cy inders are perforated, so that there may be a free circulation of water throu h and between them. These carbon cylindlers constitute the anodic and cathodic termini of the electric circuit, so that the current may flow from the source through the connections to one of the carbons, then through the water to the other carbon, and back through the connections to the 'source.

The carbon cylinders are enclosed in a metallic cup, which is deeper than the length of the carbons, and protects them and the user of the instrument. The cup is perforated, except for a portion near itstop, and is closed at the top by a colnbined plug and handle, thus leaving a watertight cham-.

ber within the cup, and between the bottom of the plug and handle, and above the carbons, which watertight chamber encloses the connections of the carbons to the conductors.

. The outer carbon is separated from the cup by insulators at the lower end, and by insulators and parking at the top.

In the accompanying one sheet of drawing 1 have illustrated an instrument containing my invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation ofthe complete instrument, the metallic cu'pbeing partially cut awaya t the bottom, to expose the in terior.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the instrument. a

Figure 3 is a cross-section on line 3, 3, of Flgure 2. I

Figure 4 is a cross-section on line 4, 4, of Figure 2.

In the figures The metallic shell, or

at 10, and the packings 10 and insulators 11 cup, 1, is closed, at the top by the combined plug 3 and handle 4, composed of a non-conducting material. I have found bakelite 'to be a satisfactory material for this purpose. The cup 1 may be locked to the plug and handle by a bayonet joint, as

5. The side walls and bottom of the cup are perforated, as at 2, except for a portion near the-top of the cup, thus permitting a free circulation of liquid therethrough.

\Vithin the cup 1 is a hollow carbon cylinder 6, with open ends, and within this a second hollow cylinder of carbon,- 7, also with open ends, both of which are perforated, as atS and 9, to permit the free -circulation of liquid through and between them, and the outer sides of the outer cylinder. 6 are grooved or corrugated, for the same purpose. At the bottom of each carbon cylinder between them and between the outer one andthe cup 1, are insulating spacing rings 11, which serveto separate them electrically. Similar rings at the tops perform the same function at that point, but are. made. of a packing material, sov as to form a watertight joint, thus keeping water from passing above them, and the hollow of the inner 'carbon is plugged for the same purpose, As a leakage of water at the bottom is not material, the insulators there need not be watertight.

The plug and handle, 3, 4, are hollowed, longitudinally, to accommodate the connec tion conductors, 16, which are connected to the-carbons at 17, within the chamber 12, and are thus protected by the chamber.

\Vhen repairs are desired, the cup 1 may be given a twist, unlocking the bayonet joint and the cup then pulled ofi', exposing the carbons and connections them accessible.

The on) and carbons are maintained in proper reiative ositions by the connections at 17, and by the friction of the packings and rendering 7 and these membeis may be bedded 1n circumferential grooves in the carbons, in

furtherance of this function.

I claim 1. An electric water heating unit, comprising, .in combination, a metallic perforated cup, two concentric perforated carbon cylinders, having 'openends, within said cup, and of less length than the depth there of, said cylinders spaced and insulated from each other and from the cup, by insulators at the bottoms of the carlmns, and insulab ing packings at the top, said carbon cylinders adapted to respectively constitute the anodic and cathodic. termini of an electric circuit.

2. An electric water heating unit, comprising, in combination, a metallic perforated cup, two concentric, zerfo "ated, car bon CIVllHClQlS, having open ends, vwithin said cup, and of less length than the depth thereof, insulators spacing and insulating,- said carbons and cup from each other at the bottoms thereof, and insulators and packing spacing and insulating said members from each other at the tops thereof, said carbons adapted to respectively constitute the anodic and cathodic termini oi an electric circuit, and

said outer carbon having corrugated sides.

3. An electric Water heating unit, con1- prising, in combination, a metallic cup having perforated surface except near the top thereof a non-conducting combined plug and handle attached to said cup at the upper end thereoflnnd forminga closure therefor, tno hollow carbon shells, open at their ends, one Within the other, insulating rings spacing said cup and carbons apart at he. bottoms thereof, insulating and packing rings spacso ing said cup and carbons apart at the tops thereof, both said carbon shells being pen forated, and of less length than the depth of the cup, the hollow of tie inner carbon being closed at the top, and there being watertight chamber above the carbons and belon the plugnnd handle, and Within the imperjtorate portion of the cup, electric con (lIlCi'I-OTS extending through said plug and handle, and connected to said carbon shells 40 within said Watertight chamber, said carbons and cup held in place by the electric connectionsand the friction of the packings.

In testimony that l have invented and claim the foregoing I have hereto set my hand this 1st of June, 1920.

RICHARD STEPHER. 

